Top 5 Apps To Help You Go Green

From tweeting to streaming videos and watches that keep track of your health, technology has enabled us to remain closely connected, entertained and healthy.

But what if technology could help save the planet? Even better, what if technology could help you make a big difference every single day?

Luckily, both scenarios are a reality and the implications they have on resolving climate change are huge!

If you’re ready to take your recycling, composting, and overall going green experience to the next level, check out some of these free apps (available for both iPhone and Android) that can help you reduce your harmful impacts on the earth each and every day:

Recycling, at times, can be a relatively time-consuming process, especially if you’re new to the concept. That’s where iRecycle comes in. This app is for those out there who don’t feel they have the time or resources needed to recycle. iRecycle does this by telling users how, where and when to recycle anything from cell phones to cardboard boxes using your current location or address.

Imagine a world where searching the web also led to more trees being planted. Ecosia is hoping to make that a reality with its search engine. Ecosia finds its strength in its commitment to donating 80% of its income to tree planting in Brazil, meaning the more people that use the search engine/app and use it regularly, the more trees that can be planted. What makes it even better is that it all comes free to you, the user.

Green The Planet is a fun, strategic game that also acts as a metaphor for cleaning up planet earth. The game centers around a group of aliens who land on a futuristic earth and must clean up the waste and junk left behind while also “greening” the planet using energy provided by passing by comets. The style and function of the game have gotten rave reviews from players. Who knew cleaning up the planet could be so fun?!

Nobody wants junk mail; hence it being called “junk” mail. Luckily, the app Paper Karma has created a simple way of stopping junk mail and all other unsolicited, unwanted paper waste. Paper Karma allows the user to snap a picture of the unwanted paper mail they have and then removes that user from the company’s mailing list. De-clutter your space and save a few trees all at the same time. It’s a win-win.

Helping the environment can also help you, or at least that’s what the app Joulebug hopes to prove to its users. The app organizes sustainability tips into Pins that you earn by making changes to your environmental impact in real-life. So, let’s say you decided to bike to work for a month instead of driving your car. Joulebug will show you how much you’re saving on gas while also giving you pins and badges to share with friends. By adding a semi-competitive aspect to its achievement board, Joulebug has made keeping the earth green a great social experiment.